The Little Brother

“We found this in the morning,” Lyle said.
Dean, his brother and I stared at chard pieces of bones.
“We should have done this a long time ago,” Gabe said.
“You’re right now Killian’s done it for us.”
Smoke was still coming out up from the set of bones. It was a disturbing sight but we didn’t have to worry about Killian and his brother raising a manic.
“Now what?” I asked.
Lyle and the guys stared at each other. Lyle shrugged.
“We get ready for the mating ball. Maybe this year I’ll get lucky and pick one out,” Lyle said.
“Unlucky girl,” Gabe added as he moved away from the burned remains.
“You’re just jealous,” Lyle frowned.
Dean hadn’t moved. He stared at the remains with hatred so hot it could burn the remains all over again. I touched his shoulder and he flinched.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Fine.”
“He put you through a lot huh?”
“Yeah. I would have been one of his hybrids if he got his way.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He marched away leaving me to follow behind him.
“So, what’s the mating ball here like? Back at Ember it was a bonfire and a lot of meat. Lots of babies were made after.”
Dean laughed. “He we get dressed up, have a party at the pack hall and run off with our mates after the full moon hits.”
“So lots of baby making here too,” I said breathlessly.
Dean stopped and took me in. I swallowed.
“No, don’t look at me like that,” I said.
He snaked a hand around my waist and tugged. “Not even a little?”
“No…”
“So we’re not running off when the full-moon hits?”
“I mean we can do that.”
Dean barked out a laugh and marched off. Lyle and Gabe were ahead of us. I ran to catch up to Dean and laced my fingers through his.
“I’m guessing I’m on the planning committee,” I said.
“You’ll do great. I would help—”
I snorted. He eyed me but said nothing.
“But I have to make sure the pack’s secure for the ball. Lyle and I are doing it.”
“What about Bane?”
“I stripped him of his duties this morning.”
“Why?”
“Something’s not right about him. He was the closest to Killian I don’t believe he knew nothing about him being hybrid.”
He didn’t look as shocked as everyone else when Killian was accused of being a Dare wolf.
“So you’re not driving me to town?” I pouted.
“Gabe will do it.”
I cringed. “I don’t want Kenzie to take it the wrong way.”
“He’s driving you to town. Besides, they’re not together.”
“Dean, something’s obviously going on. She’s territorial.”
“Most she-wolves are. Gabe hasn’t committed and he might not. He has commitment issues.”
I wouldn’t give Kenzie a reason to want to kill me. She and I had been oil and water from the start. Twenty minutes later after the omegas helped me create a list of things needed for the ball I was ready to leave. Most of it was just food items.
“Thank you,” I said.
A girl with strawberry blond hair bowed. “You’re welcome.”
Her name was Avery. She was new she bumped into Gabe on her way out. She grounded to a halt and stared up at him. Gabe was an imposing man at every angle. He glared down at her as if she was a mouse. I felt intimidated for her.
Avery and me were the same age.
She lowered her head. “Excuse me.” She scurried off.
Gabe’s green eyes found mine. I looked away. It was the two of us in the kitchen. He closed the distance but kept a respectful space between us.
“Ready?” He tossed his keys and caught them.
“Yeah.”
We walked out but stopped when a nearly identical version of Gabe blocked our path. The version I stared at was like wine aged to perfection even though Gabe as his mysterious and dark allure but Dean was ruthless. He demanded silence when he walked into a room. He was possessive and dominant.
“Little brother,” Dean said.
Gabe chuckled but there was annoyance there. “Dean.”
“Take care of my mate.”
“I’ll take care of her real good. Little Wolf,” he called then brushed passed his brother.
Dean pulled me to his chest and crashed his lips against mine. His tongue pushed my lips apart and sought out my tongue to dominate and possess me. His nails dug into my back. It was a show of dominance. He pulled back and grinned.
“See you later,” he said.
“Yeah,” I panted.
Gabe waited for me to slip into the passenger seat. He wore a black shirt with cut sleeves. Being in a confined space reminded me of when he made me strip in his bedroom. I shook those thoughts away. Stop, Layla, stop.
I couldn’t prevent my mind from thinking about his meaty thighs spread on the seat or his muscular arm controlling the wheel and the other on the gearshift. A sexy sight. I shivered and stared out the window.
Gabe chuckled and I shut my eyes hard. Could he read my thoughts? That should be illegal!
We parked outside a megastore. Gabe jumped out first.
“Okay, here’s my list.”
Gabe plucked it and frowned. “What the hell is all this for?”
That wasn’t even half of all I needed.
“Wolves eat a lot. I don’t want to be run out of town for not feeding them enough.”
Gabe laughed. “Fine we don’t have all day.”
I scowled. “It’s not like you have anything else to do.”
“Oh yeah?” He growled.
I smirked, getting under his skin. Probably two hours later we loaded the car with everything on the list and more things I saw and decided were appropriate.
“Most of this stuff isn’t necessary, Layla,” Gabe complained.
“Yes it is!”
“What the hell do you need a fruit dryer for?”
I smiled sheepishly and took the dryer from him and put it in the back of the truck. After he rolled his eyes his nostrils flared. His hand stuck out and slammed me against truck body.
“Gabe?”
A yellow and black eyed man jumped in front of Gabe. But Gabe grabbed his shirt and slammed his boot against his stomach. Dexter smacked the pavement. He was up like a spring.
“Stay back Layla,” Gabe barked.
“She’s coming with me,” Dexter growled, foam formed in his mouth.
“You don’t want to raise Erik. You don’t need her.”
“She can still kill us. She must die.”
Oh shit.
Gabe was fast. He grabbed Dexter and slammed his fist into his jaw. Dexter was faster and deceive. His claws slashed Gabe across the chest, ripping his shirt open.
“Gabe!” My wolf flashed in my eyes. My teeth sharpened and my claws grew.
Dexter stumbled back. “We’ll meet again.”
Before I could move he darted off with the speed of the wind.
“Fuck,” Gabe gasped and slammed his head on the concrete.
“It’s bad. It’s deep.”
“Stop,” he groaned.
He wasn’t healing.
“What do I do, Gabe?”
“Get me into the car. We’ll figure it out at the pack.”
He was bleeding out fast. The pavement had been painted red. I only knew one way to heal him. His eyes drooped which pushed me to work faster.
I grabbed his cheeks and pressed my lips against his. Magic flowed out of me like water from a jar. Gabe’s hands travelled up my body cupped my cheeks. He forced my lips open so he could dominate me. He was swift, possessive and controlling for a man that was denying. He grabbed my hair and pulled. Magic continued to pass through me. Gabe pulled me close with one arm and yanked on my hair with the other. I finally pulled back when the magic flow ended.
“Fuck,” I said and cupped my mouth.
Gabe chuckled and shut his eyes. Please don’t be dead.
“That how you treat everyone who’s dying?”
“Can we go now?”
“I’d rather do that again.”
My shirt had his blood but my lips had his mark. Where ever Dean was he knew what happened.